Alternating-current generator.



No. 638,679. Patented Dec. 5, I899. T. H. HICKS.

ALTERNATING CURRENT GENEBA TOR.

(Application filed Jan. 2, 1895.)

( HQ 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

WIT/M85158 I WE/w' ii y I jM By fliiomey QM M1 i 7 I No. 638,679. Patented Dec. 5, i899.

T. H. HICKS.

ALTERNATING CURRENT GENERATOR. (Application filed. Jan. 2, 1895.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES I 1 [xv 151x701? WQ Q lwmw By .H S .vffiorizey Q .Ml

UNITE STA'rss THOMAS H. HICKS, 6F DETROIT, ll'iICHiG-AN.

ALTERNATlNG-GURRENT @ENERATUFQ.

SPECIFICATION forming hart of Letters Patent No. 63 7 dated December 5, 1899.

Application filed-January 2, 1895. Seriahllo. 5335668. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. HICKS, a subject of'the Queen of Great Britain, residing at-Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Alternating-Current Generating and Regulating Apnaratns; and I declare the following to he a fdll, clear. and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, ref erence being had. to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. My invention relates to an improvement in alternating-current generating and regulating apparatus; and it consists in a compounding arrangement for an alternating-current generator furnishing current to a three-wire system consisting of the induction-coil for furnishing an auxiliary exciting-current to the generator, said induction-coil comprising an iron core, two primary coils on said core, each in series with one of the mains, and a second aryfurnishing the auxiliary exciting-current, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

My invention is fully explained in all of its details in the following specification and is.

equally as fully illustrated in the accompangn ingdrawingsheretoannexed. Saiddrawings are partly diagrammatic for the purpose of a more easy method of exposing the essential parts; but the nature of my scheme will ice readily understood by those skilled in this art by reference to the specification drawings as presented, some parts of the machine being cut away, which will be readily understood.

' Figure 1 isa horizontal view, partly in sec tion, and shows the shaft cut off at each end and shows also in diagram two multiple-series work-circuits having three main-line conductors leading thereto and an induction-regulater in connection therewith. The sectional parts of this figure referred to are (a) a rotatable field-magnet and its windings (b) and an annular ring E, which supports the armature cores. The parts cut away in Figs 1 expose to view tl1e two armature-windings and one View of the internal construction of the field-- magnet as mounted upon the shaft and also and colts E. l and serves to show also an end view of cor tain parts of Fig. 5. Fig. 3 is a perspective view-oi one of the armature-cores seen in Figs; 1 and 2, showing a few convolnticns of wire near one end of the core. This figure also shows the manner of securing each armature core in the machine; t is a detail viit} partly in and partly in section, showing a modification of an armature-core and its coils. Fig. 5 is a similar View to Fig. 1, but showing a modification. w

like iensrsoi efefence indicate like parts in the different I describe the modification shown by Figs. 1, 2. and 3 as follows .A is a shaft. B is an cylindrical field-magnet core secured to the shaft by non-magnetic flanges B i3. 13 B are magnetic laminated flanges, being secured to the circumference of the cylinder B at its two ends. These flanges B have rnultipolar extensions P and N, which are seen. to better advantage in Fig. 2. two sets field-magnet coils, which are shown separated by an insulating-disk C the two sets being wound over the core B, so as to therewith. I) and D are two sets of laminated armature cores arranged alter nately tn each other around the fie1d-inagnet paranel to the shaft. Each core is composed of a nunicer of sheetiron lazninze secured to outer central supporting-ring E by holts 1E and segments of an inner Each laminated armature-core is thus held between two circular surfaces which form each core in a circle agreeing with the circle of the inner surface of the outer ring the latter being in conformity with the diameter of the rotatable field-magnet poles.

The armature-cores may be formed of either straight pieces, aslshow in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, or they may be formed so as to have in; wardly-arranged polar extremities D as i show in r. in either case the conductors may be wound upon the cores in any suitable manner.

in Fig. 2 I only show one armature-core secured, as above stated, to the ring E; but it C and C are the manner in which the arn'laturecores are, i secured in place by the two rings E and Fig. 2 is an end view of 2 ceases show four cores wound with a conductor, simply enough being shown to illustrate the method of Winding and connecting the conductors in series with each other through the commutator-and to show the natural relative direction of the flow of currentimp ulses.

F and F are two ordinary rectifying current-coinm-utators, each oonsistingof two sets of segments alternately arranged with each other.

G and G are brushes for the commutator F and G2 G are the brushes for the commu: tator F.

In Fig. 1 I show two armature-circuits H and H, the circuit H being to primarily exite the machine to generative action and the ircuit H for supplying the three-wire workcircuits J and J; but it will be readily understood that the machine can be excited to primary action from a separate generator.-

Thearmature-circuit H is divided by a compensating conductor-K, which leads ed as a branch directly to the work-circuit, and there by forms the third conductor of the work-circuit. thisarinature-circuit H are connected to the work-circuit conductors N and N, respectively, as indicated, through series-converter regulating-coils O and O.

R is an induction-coil wound upon the core R of the'converter for supplying the suppleplemental or second set of field-coils O, which is for regulating the pressure of theworkcircuit. The'current from theinduction-coil R is rectified by the commutator F.

In the modification I show in Fig. 5 the field coils are stationary, while the fieldmagnet iron rotates. I also show in this figure two sets of illdllCtlOl'l-C0llS wound upon the rotating fieldmagnet iron, one set beingimarked S and the other set S. The induction in these coils S and S takes place from the'iarinature-cores D and D in the following manner: The field-magnet polar eX- tensions P N; upon which the coils S and S are wound, form nearly-closed magnetic circuits' through the stationary armature-cores Whenever they are in the same radial line with each other. At this'tiine themaxiinum number of lines of force will flow through this nearly-closed magnetic circuit, thereby inducing a corresponding strength of current in the coils S and S in one direction, and when the polar extensions P N have moved so as to be between two armature-cores then the maximum number of lines of force will i flow through the poles P N, thereby induciugacurrentin an opposite direction. At the same time I can also take oiI" induced currents from conducto'rs'coiled upon the armature-cores Dand D,which I show supplying The ohter two terminals L and M of a work-circuit T supplied with current front the two rings 03 y; but of course the regulating induction shown in Fig. 1 can be readily applied to this modification also.

The essential feature of my construction lies in the method of supplying a three-wire work-circuit with alternating currents obtained from only one armature-winding and at the same time'have the currents of the two sets of multiple-series translating devices act conjointly in inducing a secondary current into the coil Rot the transformer for supplying a supplemental set of field-coils, the current of which is for the purpose of regulating the pressure of the three-wire work-circuit.

Taken as a whole my scheme embraces a self-exciting self-regulating three-wire workcircuit machine. I. would have it understood, however, that the primary exciting-coil O can be supplied with current from any desired separate source without essentially changing the remaining described features of my scheme. I g

The complete device operates as follows, directing attention to Figs. 1 and 2: The relative directions of the flow of current in all of the circuits are indicated by arrow-heads arranged upon each circuit. when the fieldmagnet has been caused to rotate with suflicient speed, the machine then becomes selfexcitingthrough the combined efiects of the field-coil C, armature-circuit H, and the com mutator F in the manner well understood by those skilled in this art. If work be then equally turned on the two work-circuits J and J, current will thenflow from the armaturecircuit H through conductor L, series coil 0, conductor N, translating devices of the two circuits J and J, conductor N, series coil 0, and conductor M, where it returns to the armature-circuit H. During such a flow of current the equivalent of the consumed energy in the two coils 0 and 0' will have been transferred as an induced current in the coil R,

which will become rectified by the commit. tater F, and then caused to how through the supplemental field-coilG, which will compen- 4 sate for any fall of potential in the work-cm cuit in a manner well understood. If all of the work be now turned oif from either the circuits J and 'J, the current which flows through the remainingactive translating deviceswill then return Leone-half of the armature-circuit H by the compensatingconductor K, or it any portion of the translating devices be cutout of one of the work-circuits current will then also flow through-the con-' ductor K in a manner similar to a continuous current flowing through any three-wire worl-r-circuit now in common publicuse. The induced current in thecoil R, however, will always be proportional to the current flowing through the two circuits J and J-+that is to say, if ten a'mperes were flowing through both of the circuits J and J the induction in the be suitable for maintaining constant poten-' tial in either one or both circuitsd or J" in a manner which will be readily understood. To carry out this part of myseheme, I therefore require more than ordinary three-wire work-circuit, for in addition thereto fireqnire a converter having two sets of series coils O and 0, an induction coil R and its orninutator,-and an armature-circuit divi ed by a compensating conductor K into two but it is not essential, however, that mature-circuit be equally divided into two parts by the third or compensating conductor K. v

My scheme is very vaiuable for isolated plants.

The form of armature-core I show in Fig. 4; is more expensive to construct; but to offset this the coils H and H -are more favorably situated for receiving induction. During rotation of the field magn'et the directions of the flow of the induced current in the two sets of armature-coils are always in opposite rections to each other. Therefore the con require to be connected together, as I indicate in Fig. 2. The magnetic poles ofone sign are of course situated soasto only rotate by one end of each armature-core. in doing this as the field-magnet poles and N recede from one set. of armature-cores are approaching the other set, and when. the

poles are equidistant from the two sets of ar mature-coils induction then becomes canal in the two sets, but of opposite direction around the two sets o'fcores.

Notwithstandingthe fact that I'have shown the field-magnet core B to consist of a drum, still itcould be composed of solid iron mount ed directly upon the shaftwithon-t the flanges B. In such a case, however, the bearings for the shaft would require tc be coniposeil of non-magnetic material. a

Having thus described my invention, and in accordance therewith, l-ciairn as new-- 1. In combination with a workcircuit hav ing three main-line conductors and its trans 1ating devices arranged in In ultiple-series system, of a regulating-induotorium having two sets of series coils O and 0, one of saidseries coilsbeing connected to one of said workcircuit conductors and the other of said series c'oilsbeing connected to another of said work-circuit conductors,a generative armature-circuit having three conductors L, M. v and K leading therefrom, one of said annature-conductors being connected to onset said lnductorium series coils, another of said armature-conductors being connected to-the other of said inductorium series coils, and the third armature-conductor being connected to the third work-circuit conductor, substantially as described.

In coinbination'with a work-circuit having three main-line conductors audits translat-ingdevices arranged in m ultiple-series systern, of aregulating-inductorium provided with two sets of series coils O and O, and with an induction-coil R, one of said series coiis being connected to one of said work-cir c'uit conductors and the other of said series coiisobeing connected to another of said work? circuit conductors, an alternatingcurrent generator provided with a supplemental fieldmagnet coil 0, said generator having an armatnrecircuit provided with three conduc tors leading therefrom, said generator also being provided with a rectifying-commutator, said. field-magnet coil being connected in electrical circuit with said inductorium induction-coil, one of said armature-conductors being connected to one of said inductorium series coils, another of said armature-conductors being connected to another of said inductorium series coils, and the third armatnre-conductor being connected to the third work-circuit conductor, said corn mutator rectifying the induced current from saidinduction-coii for controlling the held of force of said generator, substantially as described.

inbombination with a work-circuit having three main-line conductors and its translating devices arranged in multiple-series systern,"of a regulating-inductori,um provided with two sets of series coils O and O, and with an induction-coil R, one of said series coils-being connected to one of said work-circuit conductors and the other of said series being connected to another of said work-circuit conductor-sen alternating-current generator provided with two sets of field-coils, two corn- :ntators, and two generating armature-oil cnite, one of said armature -'circuits having three conductors L, M and K leading therefrom, one of said armature-conductors being connected to one of said inductorium series coiis, another of said armature-conductors beserie's coils, and the third armature-conductor being connected to the third work-circuit conductor, said".inductorium-coil B being in electrical eircuitth-rough one of said commutators and through one of saidsets of coils, the said commutator rectifying the in- ,duced current/from said induction-coil, the

other oi? said generating armature-circuits and the other set of field-coils being connected in electrical circuit thrbugh the other of said comm-ntators,the generator being excited to primary'generative act-ion through said second. set of armature-windings; said second set of field -coils and said commutator in elec-. trioal circuit therewith, substantially as described.

IIIO ing connected to another of said inductorium 4. In combination with an electric geuernvided for rectifying-the current ei the coil fa,

tor having three main-line conductors N, N substantially as described. 10 and K leading therefrom, an inductorium pro- In testimony whereof I sign this SPGCHiGZL- vided with three sets of coils O, O and R, Lion in the presence of two witnesses.

said coils O, 0 being; arranged in linear series THOMAS with the conductors N, N and being caused Witnesses:

to induce currents into the coil R, eithersep- I N. S. WRIGHT, areteiv nv eonjeintiy, and means being pro- O. B. BAENZIGER. 

